Marks & Spencer has mistakenly sent out emails celebrating National Vegetarian Week with links to recipes containing meat.

The high street giant sent out thousands of emails praising the joys of a meat-free diet and inviting people to click on links to recipe for 'veggie inspiration'.

But those who did click through found themselves looking at recipes containing meat, including one for a chicken pasta dish.

M&S accidentally sent out emails to thousands of shoppers with links to recipes containing meat for National Vegetarian Week, including one for a chicken dish. Pictured: a stock picture of a chicken courgetti spaghetti dish

Vegetarian shoppers took to Facebook to say that the error showed a 'lack of regard' for their lifestyle.

But some saw the funny side, with Vicky Barton writing: 'In an office somewhere, some poor intern is frantically hitting the "recall" button and sobbing.'

Dawn James, of Halifax, West Yorkshire, however said she was insulted by the email.